5 A Nervous Hydra

CHAPTER 5 A NERVOUS HYDRA The next day, the Dragon Masters brought their dragons to the courtyard as the king had asked. "Are you sure we have to do this?" Petra asked, walking with the hydra behind her. "This won't take long," Griffith promised her. "The king just wants to show off your dragon to Queen Rose."

Drake was happy to be outside with Worm. His Earth Dragon slid across the grass beside him. Shu was next to Bo. Kepri walked with Ana, and Vulcan stomped along behind Rori. "Did you name your hydra yet?" Rori asked Petra. "Not yet," Petra replied. "You can't rush these things."

King Roland stood in the courtyard, waiting for them. He was tall, with a bushy red beard. Queen Rose, from the Kingdom of Arkwood, stood next to him. She had a kind face and she wore her hair in two long braids. Behind them, the king's guards were trying to hold back a crowd of villagers. "I thought we were just going to meet the king and Queen Rose," said Petra. "Why are so many people here?"

"Word must have got out that the dragons would be outside," Drake guessed. "The villagers have been excited about the dragons ever since they found out about them." King Roland came toward them. "Good morning, Griffith!" he said in his booming voice. "Thank you for bringing the dragons." The king walked up to the hydra and then turned to Queen Rose. "See? This new dragon has four heads!" he said. iohlik. "Just like I told you!"

"This is an amazing dragon," the queen said. "What can she do?" Griffith started to talk about the hydra. Two little kids ran past the guards. They each had a dragon toy—a dragon head with a long ribbon tail, attached to a stick. They chased each other around the courtyard, waving the sticks. The hydra's four mouths frowned as the kids got closer. Her two front feet started to paw the ground. Drake noticed it. But Petra had her back to the hydra.

Then Drake's Dragon Stone started to glow. That sometimes meant Worm was trying to tell him something. Now he could hear Worm inside his head. Petra must calm the hydra. She must pat her heads right away. Drake nodded at Worm.